Paper trimmer having automatic table slot closer



7 Aug. 28, 1956 -c. s. DAYTON 2,750,571

PAPER TRIMMER HAVING AUTOMATIC TABLE SLOT CLOSER Filed May 18, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 1 I i l I I L J w T w 1 l N l\ I l V l j e I LL INVENTOR.

Char/es 5. (Myron Aug. 28, 1956 c. s. DAYTON PAPER TRIMMER HAVINGAUTOMATIC TABLE SLOT CLOSER Filed May 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet INVEN TOR.Char/es S. Day/0n 7%, Qvkawafwy ATTORNEYS Aug. 28, 1956 c. s. DAYTON2,760,571

PAPER TRIMMER HAVING AUTOMATIC TABLE SLOT CLOSER Fil'gd May 18, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Char/es J. Day/0r? A T TOANEYS Aug. 28, 1956 c.s. DAYTON 2,760,571

PAPER TRIMMER HAVING AUTOMATIC TABLE SLOT CLOSER Fileq May 18, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 4 l l K? I E INVENTOR. Char/es .iflayfan ATTORNEYS 2,7eas71R HAVING AUTOMATI TABLE SE81 CLOER Claims. (Cl. 164S9) This inventionrelates to paper trimmers or cutters of the kind commonly employed inpaper mills, paper factories, printing plants and like establishments.in machines of this kind a lift of paper, generally consisting of oneream or two reams, according to the weight of the paper, is placed on acutting table beneath the raised cutting knife, adjusted in position,trimmed and removed.

In accordance with prior practice it has been necessary to introduce thepaper from the front of the machine, the paper being slid beneath theraised knife and thrust manually rearward into engagement with abackboard. The backboard extends above the table top, at right angles tothe table top, and parallel with the plane of knife travel, and isoperable along the table toward and from the knife, being provided witha guiding and operating extension which projects downward into andthrough a slot formed in the table.

When the paper has been put in place, the backboard is moved toward theknife by a screw which is under the control of the machine operator, totrue up the paper and locate the paper in the desired cutting position.The power operated knife is then tripped, being caused to execute acutting operation and then to come to rest in its initial raisedposition. The trimmed lift is then withdrawn at the front of themachine. Under paper mill conditions, where the machine is in continualuse, it is not unusual to employ a team of five men in connection with amachine of this kind, two to put each lift in place initially, one tooperate the backboard and knife and turn and readjust the lift after theinitial cut, and two to remove the lift from the machine.

The foregoing procedure has the drawback that the men and their trucksare crowded together at the front of the machine, so that the efliciencyof the machine and the men is reduced.

It is a primary object of the present invention to avoid the necessityof feeding the machine from the front. By providing a side table behindthe knife at the level of the cutting table, a convenient means may beprovided for sliding lifts onto the cutting table from the side of thelatter. The sliding of a lift into operative position from the side,however, involves a difficulty because the leading margins of the bottomsheets do not bridge the slot smoothly but tend to drop down into theslot and to become folded under, crumpled and torn.

It is a salient object of the present invention to provide meanssufiiciently filling the slot in front of the backboard to enable a liftintroduced from the side to he slid across the slot without damage, yetshiftable out of the way to leave the slot clear from a point just inadvance of the backboard guide so that the guide can travel freelytoward and from the knife.

It is a feature of the invention that the slot filler, thoughwithdrawable, is not required to travel along the slot, nor to haverubbing contact with the table or with any of the other parts. Thefiller does not, therefore, tend to wear away the table nor to be itselfworn tes atent Federated Aug. 28, 1956 away. It, therefore, has notendency to drop below the level of the table top because of wear.

For the purpose of achieving the foregoing ends the filler mayadvantageously be made to consist of a chain having cleats supportedmarginally by the table. The chain is anchored at its forward end in theslot and at its rear end at a level substantially above the slot.Between its ends the chain is turned upward around a pulley carried bythe backboard behind the backboard face and in front of the backboardguide, and is turned rearward around an upper pulley which is carried bythe backboard at the level of the rear end of the chain. In this way, asthe backboard moves forward, the chain is progressively lifted out ofthe slot just in advance of the backboard guide, leaving the slot clearwhere it is required to be clear for the passage of the backboard guide,but keeping the slot continuously filled in front of the backboard.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure l is a diagrammatic plan view of the table, backboard, slot andknife arrangement;

Figures 2 and 3, when placed end to end, constitute a longitudinal,vertical, sectional View taken substantially along a side boundary ofthe slot;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view, taken upon the line 4-4 ofFigure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view, taken upon the line 5-5 ofFigure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view, taken upon the line 66 ofFig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The relationship of the principal parts of the illustrative machine isshown in plan in Figure 1. Here a cutting table it is equipped towardthe forward end thereof with a wooden inset bar 2 that stands flush withthe top of the table. A vertically reciprocating knife 3, controlled bya one revolution clutch (not shown) normally stands idle at the upperlimit of its movement, but may be tripped when a lift 4 of paper hasbeen properly located in cutting position. When the knife is set intooperation it descends barely into contact with the wooden bar 2 andreturns to initial position where it comes to rest.

According to prior practice the lift 4 would have to be inserted fromthe front beneath the raised knife 3. A backboard 5 under the control ofthe operator would then he slid forward to square the lift and toadvance it to proper cutting position relative to the knife. Thebackboard includes a guide 6 which travels in a slot 7 formed in thecutting table 1. The slot terminates some distance in back of thecutting bar 2. The slot 7 introduces no difliculty in the matter ofinserting the lifts from the front of the machine.

The practice, however, of feeding the lifts in from the front,controlling the knife and backboard from the front and withdrawing thetrimmed lifts from the'front is a tedious and inefficient procedure andone which causes the men and trucks used for feeding and unloading themachine to interfere with one another and with the operator.

The machine comprises a frame that includes supporting standards 9 (oneshown). A knife operating shaft 10 is carried in partial bearings 11 ofthe standards 9, being held in place by complementary bearing members12. A gear flywheel 13 on the shaft it) has associated therewith a crankpin 16 which is passed through a block 17 secured upon a rod 20. Rod 20has secured to the upper end thereof a yoke 22 which embraces a block 23through which a pin 24 is passed. A pivot pin 25 at right angles to pin24 is passed through the block 23 and is also passed through a stem 26of a knife carrier 27. The stem 26 has secured upon it a channeled guideblock 21 which is guided for vertical movement in a slot 21a formed inthe frame member 9. Channels formed in opposite faces of the block 21embrace marginal portions of the frame members 9 which border the slot.The knife carrier includes a block 28 which extends across between theframe members 9 and which carries the knife 3. The knife 3 is normallystationary but is adapted to be connected to the constantly runningflywheel 13 through a one revolution clutch (not shown).

The backboard comprises a vertical gage member 30 which constitutes theboard proper. The member 30 is constructed of metal. It includes anupstanding forward wall whose forward face extends parallel to the pathof knife travel, rearwardly extending vertical webs at opposite sides ofthe slot, and a rearwardly extending horizontal wall which rests uponthe top of the table 1 and which is connected to the backboard guide 6by screws 31. The horizontal wall has an opening formed in it which liesbehind the board member 30, in front of the guide 6, and directly overthe slot.

The guide 6 extends down through the slot 7 and includes a feed nut 32.which is held against rotation by a flat face 33. A feed screw 34 isrevolubly mounted in forward and rear brackets or frame members 35 and36. The screw 34 is threaded through the nut 32 and is secured againstaxial movement relative to the machine frame. A hand wheel 37, securedto the screw 34 by a set screw 38 at the forward end of the screw, bearsagainst the forward face of the frame member 35 to prevent axialdisplacement of the screw in a rearward direction. A sprocket wheel 39,secured upon the rear end of the screw 34 by a set screw 4%, bearsagainst the rear face of the frame member 36 to prevent axial movementof the screw in a forward direction. The screw 34 is driven forward orbackward under the control of the operator through operating mechanismwhich comprises a chain 41 and the sprocket 39.

The details of the knife, the cutting table, the mechanism for operatingthe knife and the mechanism for operating the backboard thus fardescribed are conventional, and form no part of the present invention.

It is a primary object of the present invention, however, to makeprovision for introducing the lifts onto the cutting table 1 from theside thereof at a point in back of the knife 3 and in front of theretracted backboard 5, in order to eliminate awkwardness and congestionin feeding, operating and unloading the machine.

For this purpose a side feed table 8 is provided whose 7 top standsflush with the top of the cutting table 1.

When a lift 4- is thrust in sidewise from the table 8, the leading edgesof the lower sheets tend to dip down into the slot 7 and become folded,rumpled and torn. In accordance with the invention, provision is madefor filling the slot in advance of the backboard while keeping the slotfree Where necessary for accommodating the travel of the backboard guide6.

In order to bridge the slot in front of the backboard 5 so that a liftmay be fed across the slot from the side of the cutting table a filleris provided in the form of a flexible chain 43. The chain comprisesalternate wide and narrow links 44 and .5. The foremost narrow link 45is connected to a yoke 46 having stem 47, which stem is anchored in thetop of the table 1 a short distance to the rear of knife path. Each widelink has fixed upon it, as by welding, a cleat which is considerablywider than the link itself. Each cleat is considerably wider than thenormal slot 7. The slot 7 is widened by the formation of rabbets 49 atits upper end, and the cleats 48 are made wide enough and thick enoughjust to fill the width and depth of the widened portions of the slot.With this arrangement the margins of the links are sustained by the topof the table 1, and

4 in turn serve to carry the weight of that portion of the chain whichis located in the slot.

From the anchorage at its forward end the chain extends rearward beneaththe front wall of the backboard member 30. The member 39 carries anglebrackets 50 in which the axle 51 of a flanged roller or pulley 52 isrotatively mounted. The flanges 53 of the roller 52. are spaced apartjust widely enough to engage and guide the opposite side edges of thecleats 48, while the main body of the roller 52 stands tangent to theplane of the top surface of the table 1. The chain is turned upwardaround the bottom and rear of the roller 52, being led through avertical stretch onto a further roller 54. The roller 54 is rotativelysupported on a shaft 55 which is mounted in relatively tall anglebrackets 56 secured upon the backboard member 39. The roller 54comprises end collars 57 of comparatively large diameter and anintervening collar 58 of smaller diameter.. The width of the collar 58is the same as that of the wider links 44 of the chain 43 so that thelinks 44 can be received within the circumferential groove bounded bythe collars 57 and 58. The cleats 48 bear against the pass around thelarger collars 57.

From the roller 54 the chain extends substantially horizontallyrearward, having its end secured to a screw 59 by which it is anchoredto the upper end of a post 60 fixed on the rear extremity of thetable 1. The screw 59 is passed freely through the upper end of the post60, but has nuts 61 and 63 threaded on it in engagement with the frontand rear faces of the post 60. The nuts may be adjusted to change thetension of the chain.

With the arrangement shown the chain cleats 48 constantly bridge thatportion of the slot 7 which lies in front of the backboard butconstantly leave the slot free for the passage of the backboard guide 6.As the backboard moves forward the chain is progressively lifted out ofthe slot just ahead of the backboard guide 6, and as the backboard movesrearward the chain is progressively returned to the slot.

Attention is particularly called to the fact that although the chainmoves into and out of the slot is does not slide along the table, norhave sliding engagement with any other operating parts, so that littlewearresults from its use.

With the novel mechanism here disclosed the paper lifts may be fed intothe machine sidewise from the table 8. When a lift 4 has been thusplaced on the table 1 in the position illustrated in full lines inFigure 1 it may be straightened and pushed forward by forward move mentof the backboard to the dotted line position designated 4a in Figure l.The knife is then tripped, being caused to execute one complete cuttingcycle.

At the conclusion of the first cut the backboard may be retracted andany desired further cuts may be made in the usual way. When the last outis finished the backboard may be directly operated to its fullyretracted position or it may first be advanced a short distance to carrythe forward margin of the trimmed lift clear of the knife path so thatthe lift can be seized more conveniently and without the workmen havingto reach under the knife. When the backboard has been returned to itsfully retracted position the machine is ready for a repetition of thedescribed operations upon a fresh lift. There is obviously no conflictbetween the workmen who feed the lifts into the machine and those whoremove them from the machine.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of myinvention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodimentsshown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A guillotine paper cutter adapted to have paper lifts inserted fromthe side and removed from the front comprising, in combination, aslotted cutting table, a

knife for cutting paper lifts supported on the table, a backboardretractable from the knife to permit a paper lift to be placed in frontof it, and advanceable toward the knife to square the paper lift andslide it forward into cutting position, said backboard having a guidewhich travels in the table slot, a series of articulated rigid elementsforming a chain adapted to be positioned in the slot, at least a portionof said elements having upper platform means adapted to bridge the slot,means associated with the slot cooperating with said elements forpositioning and supporting said elements in the slot with said upperplatform means fiush with the cutting table surface to enable lifts fedonto the table from the side to travel smoothly across the slot in frontof the backboard and in back of the knife, means anchoring the forwardend of the chain in the slot, means anchoring the rear end of the chainin fixed position at a level above the slot, and lower and uppertraveling chain guides carried by the backboard, the former in positionto turn the chain upward away from the slot just behind the backboardface and in front of the backboard guide, and the latter disposed toturn the chain rearward at substantially the level of the rear end ofthe chain.

2. A paper cutter as set forth in claim 1 in which the slot is madecomparatively wide at the top and comparatively narrow at the bottom,and in which the chain comprises links narrow enough to fit in thenarrow part of the slot, and said upper platform means are cleatssecured to certain of the links said cleats being of a size to bridgethe top portion of the slot, said cleats serving to support the chain inthe slot.

3. A paper cutter as set forth in claim 1 in which the slot is madecomparatively wide at the top and comparatively narrow at the bottom,and in which the chain comprises links narrow enough to fit in thenarrow part of the slot, and said upper platform means are cleatssecured to certain of the links said cleats being of a size to bridgethe top portion of the slot, said cleats serving to support the chain inthe slot, the lower chain guide being in the form of a broad rollerengageable with the cleats, and the upper chain guide being also in theform of a broad roller engageable with the cleats but grooved to passthe chain links.

4. In a guillotine paper cutter, in combination, a slotted cuttingtable, a knife for cutting paper lifts supported on the table, abackboard retractable from the knife to permit a paper lift to be placedin front of it and advanceable toward the knife to square the paper liftand slide it into cutting position, the backboard having a guide whichtravels in the table slot, a side table adjoining a side of the cuttingtable to the rear of the knife having its top flush with the top of thecutting table, and providing a loading station from which a lift may heslid onto the cutting table from the side, and a filler operable intoand out of slot bridging position to enable a lift slid in from the sideto pass smoothly across the slot, but to leave the slot clear formovement of the backboard guide when and where required, said fillercomprising an articulated link chain having slot spanning rigidsupporting cleats secured across the upper part of a portion, at least,of the links.

5. A guillotine paper cutter adapted to have paper lifts inserted fromthe side and removed from the front comprising, in combination, aslotted cutting table, a knife for cutting paper lifts supported on thetable, a backboard retractable from the knife to permit a paper lift tobe placed in front of it, and advanceable toward the knife to square thepaper lift and slide it forward into cutting position, said backboardhaving a guide which travels in the table slot, a series of articulatedrigid ele ments forming a chain adapted to be positioned in the slot, atleast a portion of said elements having upper platform means adapted tobridge the slot, means associated With the slot cooperating with saidelements for positioning and supporting said elements in the slot withsaid upper platform means flush with the cutting table surface to enablelifts fed onto the table from the side to travel smoothly across theslot in front of the backboard and in back of the knife, a travelingchain guide carried by the backboard in position to turn the chainupward away from the slot behind the backboard face and in front of thebackboard guide, and means anchoring the rear end of the chain forretaining the chain in a substantially taut condition and clear of thebackboard guide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS296,191 Lawlor Apr. 1, 1884 582,878 Robinson et al. May 18, 1897 971,146Repp Sept. 27, 1910 995,972 Larsen June 20, 1911 1,427,642 Rickard Aug.29, 1922 2,274,825 Eichenberger Mar. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 601,494Great Britain May 6, 1948

